In The Middle-Divorce Healing For Catholic Women

If you’ve ever ended your day feeling like you didn’t do enough, or wondered why everyone else seems to have it all together while you’re just trying to keep up, you’re in the right place.

Midlife can be messy and full of changes, comparisons, and that constant feeling that we’re falling short. But what if there’s another way to see yourself and your life?

In this episode, I’m diving into a concept from the book The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. It’s all about learning to measure your progress by how far you’ve come, not by how far you still have to go. And when you look at it through a faith lens, it’s powerful and it shifts your focus from striving and comparison to gratitude, peace, and seeing the hand of God in your everyday life.

So grab your coffee, take a deep breath, and join me for a real and grace-filled conversation. Together we’ll talk about how to step out of the gap, live in the gain, and see yourself the way God sees you...loved, growing, and right where you’re meant to be.

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, retreat leader, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. With over 26 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and Director of Religious Education, she is passionate about walking with midlife women through life’s transitions—especially those that come from unexpected changes in relationships, identity, or purpose. A devoted mother of three grown sons and proud grandmother of two, Jennie creates sacred spaces where women can encounter the love of the Father, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, so they can magnify Christ in their everyday lives. Jennie is the host of the Catholic Moms in the Middle podcast and a featured voice on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, where she shares encouragement and faith-filled wisdom with women navigating the twists and turns of midlife.

Have you ever noticed how some of the most sacred words of our faith love, hope, and joy have been hijacked by our culture? They show up on coffee mugs, t-shirts, and Instagram captions, but somewhere along the way, their true, life-changing meaning got watered down.

In this episode, we dive deeper into these three words, peeling back layers of cultural noise to rediscover their biblical and Catholic roots. Through Scripture, Church teaching, and the wisdom of the saints, I show you how these virtues aren’t fluffy slogans, but anchors that can sustain Catholic women especially in midlife through seasons of change, loss, and new beginnings.

✨ What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Why love is more than just an emotion or consumer slogan it's a choice, a sacrifice, and the very nature of God Himself. The four kinds of love in Scripture (eros, philia, storge, agape) and how they shape your relationships.

How to recognize when “hope” has been reduced to wishful thinking and reclaim it as an anchor in Christ. Why joy is not the same as happiness, and how the saints teach us to rejoice even in suffering.

Practical ways to bring these virtues into your daily life as a Catholic woman navigating midlife transitions.

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, retreat leader, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. With over 26 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and Director of Religious Education, she is passionate about walking with midlife women through life’s transitions—especially those that come from unexpected changes in relationships, identity, or purpose. A devoted mother of three grown sons and proud grandmother of two, Jennie creates sacred spaces where women can encounter the love of the Father, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, so they can magnify Christ in their everyday lives. Jennie is the host of the Catholic Moms in the Middle podcast and a featured voice on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, where she shares encouragement and faith-filled wisdom with women navigating the twists and turns of midlife.

This week on Catholic Moms in the Middle, I’m diving into a topic that every single one of us faces, change.

Have you ever felt like the rug was pulled out from under you? Maybe your kids are grown and suddenly the house that was once noisy and chaotic is now painfully quiet. Or maybe your marriage looks completely different than you ever imagined. Midlife seems to come with one change after another...sometimes chosen, sometimes not and it can feel scary, overwhelming, or even unfair. But here’s the good news: God meets us in the middle of change. He doesn’t leave us to figure it out on our own.

In fact, He uses change...even the painful kind to shape us, strengthen us, and lead us closer to Him.

In this episode, I share:

✨ My own story of becoming an empty nester and how God used that season to open new doors. ✨ The difference between clinging to control and surrendering to God’s will (and the surprising peace that comes when we finally let go).

✨ How Scripture reminds us that every closed door is really an invitation to a new beginning with God on the other side.

✨ Reflection questions you can ask yourself as you walk through your own season of transition. Friend, if you’re staring at a closed door right now, whether in motherhood, marriage, career, or another part of your life this episode is for you.

You don’t have to just survive change. With God, you can thrive in it.

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, retreat leader, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. With over 26 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and Director of Religious Education, she is passionate about walking with midlife women through life’s transitions—especially those that come from unexpected changes in relationships, identity, or purpose. A devoted mother of three grown sons and proud grandmother of two, Jennie creates sacred spaces where women can encounter the love of the Father, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, so they can magnify Christ in their everyday lives. Jennie is the host of the Catholic Moms in the Middle podcast and a featured voice on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, where she shares encouragement and faith-filled wisdom with women navigating the twists and turns of midlife.

My dear friend Debbie Smith is joining me on the podcast! Debbie and I met about 10 years ago here in Nashville, and from the start, I’ve admired her boldness when it comes to sharing her faith. Seriously, she can strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. We lovingly call her our “bar stool evangelist” because she can sit down at a bar, order a craft beer, and before you know it, she’s talking with the bartender about the Eucharist. Now, I know what you’re thinking… I could never do that. But here’s the thing Debbie hasn’t always been this way. In fact, she once thought she didn’t know enough about her Catholic faith to share it with anyone. But through Bible studies, books like Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn, and her own personal encounters, she’s discovered how to authentically connect with people about Jesus and the beauty of the Church. In this episode, Debbie and I talk about: How she went from shy and unsure about her faith to joyfully sharing it with strangers. Why evangelization isn’t about preaching or pressuring but about authentic connections. Some amazing God-moments where the Holy Spirit gave her the exact words to say. What to do when you feel too scared or unqualified to share your faith. My favorite part? Debbie reminds us that evangelization doesn’t always look like words...it can be as simple as a smile, an act of kindness, or telling someone why your faith is important to you. 👉 If you’ve ever wondered how to bring Christ into everyday conversations without feeling awkward or pushy, you don’t want to miss this one. Debbie’s stories will encourage you, inspire you, and maybe even nudge you to take a step of faith in your own little corner of the world. Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, retreat leader, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. With over 26 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and Director of Religious Education, she is passionate about walking with midlife women through life’s transitions—especially those that come from unexpected changes in relationships, identity, or purpose. A devoted mother of three grown sons and proud grandmother of two, Jennie creates sacred spaces where women can encounter the love of the Father, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, so they can magnify Christ in their everyday lives. Jennie is the host of the Catholic Moms in the Middle podcast and a featured voice on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, where she shares encouragement and faith-filled wisdom with women navigating the twists and turns of midlife.

I finally convinced my dear friend, Lisa Rippy, to join me and share her incredible story.

Trust me—you don’t want to miss this one! Lisa has such a beautiful testimony of what happens when you hear God’s call and simply say yes. In 2014, during what seemed like an ordinary school presentation, Lisa felt the Lord tug on her heart to go to Sierra Leone and she didn’t hesitate.

That one yes led to a life-changing journey for her, her family, her students, and our entire community. In this conversation, Lisa opens up about:

What it felt like to hear God’s call so clearly in the middle of everyday life. Her first trip to Sierra Leone and the powerful ways God’s presence showed up.

How the children she thought she was going to teach ended up teaching her. The ripple effect of her yes, especially how it shaped her daughter’s future calling.

Why serving doesn’t have to be “big” to matter and how even the small things bring joy and transformation.

Lisa’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late, never too small, and never the wrong season for God to use us. You’ll be inspired, encouraged, and maybe even challenged to say yes to the little nudges God is placing on your heart.

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, retreat leader, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. With over 26 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and Director of Religious Education, she is passionate about walking with midlife women through life’s transitions—especially those that come from unexpected changes in relationships, identity, or purpose. A devoted mother of three grown sons and proud grandmother of two, Jennie creates sacred spaces where women can encounter the love of the Father, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, so they can magnify Christ in their everyday lives. Jennie is the host of the Catholic Moms in the Middle podcast and a featured voice on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, where she shares encouragement and faith-filled wisdom with women navigating the twists and turns of midlife.

In today’s episode of Catholic Moms in the Middle, I’m wrapping up my little series on the lessons God has been teaching me while working in my yard. What I thought would be one episode turned into three because—just like in our gardens—God never stops showing us new ways to grow.

This time, I’m sharing three final reflections that connect the work of tending soil, pulling weeds, and pruning plants to the deeper work of tending our hearts, minds, and souls. We’ll talk about:

🌱 How the “weeds” of negative thoughts keep popping up (and how to take them captive in Christ).

✂️ Why pruning can feel harsh, but actually leads to new, healthier growth.

🌸 How blooming comes in different seasons—and how God often surprises us with new life just when we think we’re done.

It’s real, it’s honest, and it’s a reminder that whether you’re in a season of blooming, pruning, or quiet rest, God is always at work in you.

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, retreat leader, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. With over 26 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and Director of Religious Education, she is passionate about walking with midlife women through life’s transitions—especially those that come from unexpected changes in relationships, identity, or purpose.

A devoted mother of three grown sons and proud grandmother of two, Jennie creates sacred spaces where women can encounter the love of the Father, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, so they can magnify Christ in their everyday lives.

Jennie is the host of the Catholic Moms in the Middle podcast and a featured voice on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, where she shares encouragement and faith-filled wisdom with women navigating the twists and turns of midlife.

This week, I’m back in the garden—literally and spiritually.

What started as a fun project to tidy up my yard and grow a few vegetables turned into a rich space for God to teach me deep truths about my heart, my faith, and the way I live. As I worked with my hands in the dirt, pulling weeds and planting seeds, I began to notice how God was using every little task—especially the frustrating ones—to speak to my soul.

In this episode, I share the story of my tomato plants that looked beautiful above ground, but below the surface, they were struggling. The soil was rocky, and the roots couldn’t go deep. It reminded me so vividly of Jesus' parable in Matthew 13—the seed sown on rocky ground that springs up quickly but withers just as fast because it has no root.

I began to ask: Where in my own life do I appear to be thriving, but deep down I’m dry, overextended, or disconnected from God? And more importantly, how many of us are trying to produce fruit without first tending to the soil of our hearts?

Throughout the episode, I talk about the ways we all try to "fake the fruit": smiling at church while feeling spiritually empty, saying yes out of guilt or performance, trying to be the perfect Catholic mom or wife while burying our own pain. I’ve done it. I’ve coached women through it. And I know how exhausting it can be.

We explore the four anchors that help us cultivate good, deep spiritual soil:
🕊️ Silence
✝️ Sacraments
💔 Suffering
🤲 Surrender

These aren’t glamorous. They don’t always feel productive. But this is where God does His most beautiful work. When we allow Him into our hidden, rocky places—into the pain, the dryness, the places we’d rather keep covered—He begins to till the soil. He prepares us to grow fruit that isn’t just impressive, but lasting and life-giving.

I also talk about how to recognize rotten fruit in our lives: the habits, actions, or even ministry roles that look holy but aren’t bearing real joy, peace, or love. And I remind you (and myself!) that God doesn’t just want us to be busy. He wants us to be rooted.

So if you’re feeling worn out, spiritually dry, or unsure whether the fruit of your life is real or just for show—this episode is for you.

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, retreat leader, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. With over 26 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and Director of Religious Education, she is passionate about walking with midlife women through life’s transitions—especially those that come from unexpected changes in relationships, identity, or purpose.

A devoted mother of three grown sons and proud grandmother of two, Jennie creates sacred spaces where women can encounter the love of the Father, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, so they can magnify Christ in their everyday lives.

Jennie is the host of the Catholic Moms in the Middle podcast and a featured voice on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, where she shares encouragement and faith-filled wisdom with women navigating the twists and turns of midlife.

Over the past six months, I’ve spent a lot of time working in my yard—not because it’s beautiful or easy to care for, but because it’s where God unexpectedly met me. Between the weeds, the rocky soil, and a hose that never cooperates, I began to experience God as a gardener. What started as a to-do list to improve my yard became a sacred space for healing and connection with the Lord. I realized that working in the dirt became deeply spiritual. It taught me how God speaks through the most ordinary things—soil, sun, weeds, and even a leaky hose.

One of the first powerful lessons I learned was about the garden hose. If there's a kink, the water won’t flow—just like our spiritual lives. We can be doing all the right things—going to Mass, praying, reading Scripture—but if we’re holding onto fear, shame, sin, resentment, or busyness, the grace of God can't flow through us fully. Leaks in the hose reminded me of trying to give to others while running on empty, leading to burnout, irritability, and emotional exhaustion. God used that leaky hose to show me that healing comes first—before we pour out to others, we must allow His grace to fill and restore us.

Another lesson: not all weeds are ugly. Some look like good plants, even beautiful, but they choke out real growth. Spiritually, that means not everything that appears “good” is of God. I’ve had to discern what’s life-giving versus what’s distracting. Sometimes, good things—like serving in ministry or taking on new responsibilities—aren’t meant for this season. As midlife women navigating change, it’s vital to pause and ask: is this drawing me closer to Christ or pulling me away? By slowing down, praying, journaling, and inviting the Holy Spirit in, I’ve started to recognize the weeds I need to release in order to grow a more fruitful and grace-filled life.

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, retreat leader, and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. With over 26 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and Director of Religious Education, she is passionate about walking with midlife women through life’s transitions—especially those that come from unexpected changes in relationships, identity, or purpose.

A devoted mother of three grown sons and proud grandmother of two, Jennie creates sacred spaces where women can encounter the love of the Father, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, so they can magnify Christ in their everyday lives.

Jennie is the host of the Catholic Moms in the Middle podcast and a featured voice on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, where she shares encouragement and faith-filled wisdom with women navigating the twists and turns of midlife.

In this week's episode of Catholic Moms in the Middle, Jennie Guinn invites you to see your current struggles through a new lens—the lens of fire. But not a fire that destroys—a fire that purifies, transforms, and reignites your God-given purpose. Whether you’re walking through grief, facing the ache of an empty nest, struggling in your marriage, or simply feeling lost in midlife, Jennie reminds you that you are not being burnt out—you’re being lit up. With wisdom drawn from scripture, the Blessed Mother, and the lives of the saints, this episode is an invitation to see your pain not as a punishment, but as a sacred path toward holiness.

Jennie shares insights from a recent morning of reflection where she explored how fire shows up in our lives—not just in the dramatic crises, but in the quiet ache of change, in unanswered prayers, and in the slow burn of transition. Drawing on her own experience and the stories of women she walks with in ministry, she gently guides you to reflect on how God might be using your fire to strip away what is false and fill you with what is holy. You'll also hear how the Blessed Mother walked through the fire with silent surrender and unwavering faith—and how she walks beside you, too.

Through encouraging stories, journaling prompts, and spiritual practices, this episode will help you recognize the fire in your life, surrender it to God, and allow it to become the spark that ignites your light—and someone else’s. You were born to sparkle, not just survive. Let Jennie remind you that holiness is often forged in the heat, and that your small flame, lit by God, can shine brightly in a weary world. If you're longing for purpose, hope, and healing in the fire you're facing, this episode will speak directly to your heart.

Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, podcaster, and radio show host who walks with women facing life’s unexpected turns. She helps them encounter the Father’s love, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, and find healing from pain and disappointment so they can magnify Christ with their lives. Through faith-filled coaching and heartfelt conversations, Jennie empowers women to rediscover hope and to live life with purpose and joy.

In this episode of Catholic Moms in the Middle, I sit down with my dear friend of 15 years, Mona Overstreet. Mona is a convert to the Catholic faith, and her story is one of incredible resilience, deep faith, and a heart fully surrendered to God. After caring for her adoptive mother for eight years and walking through tremendous personal loss and illness, Mona now lives in an assisted living facility where she sees her life as a mission field. She calls this season her “fourth quarter,” and she’s committed to using every moment to glorify God and bring others closer to Him. Mona shares how her suffering has shaped her—not as a burden, but as a path to holiness. From quieting the noise by removing distractions like TV to spending time in daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, Mona is intentional about hearing God’s voice and acting on it. She reminds us that even in weakness, pain, or isolation, God can use us powerfully. Whether she’s praying for strangers in the grocery store or sharing her faith with staff at her facility, Mona is a shining example of what it means to live your faith out loud. Her story is a beautiful witness to the strength that comes from Christ alone. If you’re walking through suffering, loss, or uncertainty, I pray that Mona’s words encourage you to keep talking to God, to stay rooted in the sacraments, and to trust that He is working—even when you can’t see it. Jennie Guinn is a Catholic life coach, podcaster, and radio show host who walks with women facing life’s unexpected turns. She helps them encounter the Father’s love, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, and find healing from pain and disappointment so they can magnify Christ with their lives. Through faith-filled coaching and heartfelt conversations, Jennie empowers women to rediscover hope and to live life with purpose and joy.